Save money on your gas and electricity bills

How can I use less energy?

Do a home energy check

Home improvements such as better insulation can reduce your energy bills.

Look into grants and benefits to help you save on home heat and insulation

Also try the Energy Savings Advice Service and Home Energy Scotland. These national helplines can advise on benefits, grants for home insulation, reduced tariffs and special payment options. Or try the government's energy grants calculator.

How to avoid wasting energy

Use a timer on your central heating system. Set the heating and hot water to come on only when required.

If you have a hot water tank, set the cylinder thermostat to 60oC (140oF).

Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows. Check for draughts, too.

Always turn off the light when you leave a room.

Use energy-saving light bulbs.

Don't leave appliances on standby or laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

When washing up, washing or drying by machine, try to fully load the appliance. One full load uses less energy than two half loads.

Try to only boil the water you need.

Turn taps off properly ? in a single week, a dripping hot tap can waste enough hot water to fill half a bath.

Dry your clothes outside during nice weather

How to pay less for the gas and electricity you use

Make sure you're on the best tariff

Your supplier

Talk to your supplier or look at their website to see what tariffs they have available. Your bill must include personalised information about your supplier's cheapest tariff and how much you could save. The bill will also give you estimated costs for the next year.

Other suppliers

Use a price comparison website to see if another supplier can make you a better offer.